1. When I heal Israel,Israel’s sin will go away,and so will Samaria’s evil.“They cheat a lot!Thieves break into houses,and robbers are in the streets.
2. It never enters their mindsthat I remember all their evil deeds.The bad things they do are all around them;they are right in front of me.
3. “They make the king happy with their wickedness;their rulers are glad with their lies.
4. But all of them are traitors.They are like an oven heated by a baker.While he mixes the dough,he does not need to stir up the fire.
5. The kings get so drunk they get sick every day.The rulers become crazy with wine;they make agreements with those who do not know the true God.
6. They burn like an oven;their hearts burn inside them.All night long their anger is low,but when morning comes, it becomes a roaring fire.
7. All these people are as hot as an oven;they burn up their rulers.All their kings fall,and no one calls on me.
8. “Israel mixes with other nations;he is like a pancake cooked only on one side.
9. Foreign nations have eaten up his strength,but he doesn’t know it.Israel is weak and feeble, like an old man,but he doesn’t know it.